Guiding means for rolling mills



Jan. 5, 1932. R. H. NORTON 1,839,251

GUIDING MEANS FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June l5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffjlor' 077', L MQW.

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Jan.,5',f1932. R. H. NORTON l GUIDING MEANS FORYROLLING MILLS Filed June 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 5, 1932. R. H. NORTON GUIDING MEANS FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June 15, 1928l 4 sheets-sheet s Jan. 5, 1932. R. HNORTON GUIDING MEANS FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June l5. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE RALPH H. NORTON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ACME STEEL COMPANYQOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS GUIDING-MEANS FOR ROLLING MILLS Application led J'une 15,

This invention relates to improvements in guiding means for rolling mills such as those employed in steel mills. and the like for reducing hot ingots or slabs 'to the form of bars, strips or sheets. The principall object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of guiding means for properly guiding sheets, strips or the like in their travel between the reducing rolls of the mill. Although the invention may be employed with advantage in the uiding of single sheets or strips of meta, it is peculiarly adapted for use in guiding a plurality of superimposed layers of metal, known as a packbetween the reducing rolls. Where the pack is formed by doubling a partially reduced' and greatly elongated flat bar or strip of metalupon itself, it is important that the upper layer of the doubled bar be maintained withits edges in exact alignment with the edges of the lower layer of the doubled bar or strip during the subsequent reduction by the finishing rolls and the uiding means of the present invention may e used elliciently for that purpose. An important object of the present invention is to provide guiding means comprising guiding rollers for engaging the edges of the advancing strips in combina.- tion with normally stationary guiding means i preferably located'to guide the sheet or. sheets immediately before they pass' between the reducing rolls. A further object of the invention is to provide improved guiding means capable of adjustment for accommodating different widths of flat bars or strips and for permitting the desired accurate spaced relation of the guiding means with respect to the-edges of the strips and with vrespect t-o each other. A further object.of the invention is to provide improved guiding means having parts for engaging opposite sides of the metal strips which are simultaneously adjustable by a single operating Other objects relate to various fea-l tures of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which 1928. Serial No. 285,623.

one embodiment of the improved guiding means is illustrated. -In the drawings,

F igurel shows a somewhat diagrammatic top lan view of a rolling mill having applied) thereto the guiding means ofthe present invention;

Fig.. 2 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 vshows an enlarged diagrammatic side elevation of the portion of apparatus shown in Fig. l whereby the elongated bar is doubled upon itself preliminary to being subjected to the action of the nishin rolls. Fig. 4 shows atop plan view of t e improved guiding means with the uppermost reducing roller and adjacent parts of the supportin 'structure removed; Fig. 5 s ows a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows 'a transverse section taken .on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 7 shows a transverse section through the mill illustrating 'the method of'driving the rollers of the guiding means;

Fig. 8 shows a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of two pairs of reducing rolls and of the rollers embodied in the guiding means, illustrating vthe means for driving these guiding rollers;

Fig. 9 is a dlagrammatic cross-sectional, View illustrating the engagement with the rollers of the guiding means of the edges of the metal sheets; and

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7

For the purpose of explaining the use and proved guiding means of the present inven/ 95 tion being located adjacent .to the respective sets of reducing rolls which engage the doubled bar or strip. Ofl course,- the guidingmeans constituting the present invention might be embodied in other forms of rolling mills and'adapted for use with the rolling of single sheets of metal. In the operation of the rolling mill apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the original ingots are formed into slabs preferably several feet long, two inches or more in thickness, and about four inches or more in width. These slabs are heated in a suitable furnace 15 to a temperature suitable for the subsequent rolling operation which may, preferably be about 2300 degrees F. to permit the sequence of operations described in connection with the apparatus shown in the drawings. These slabs after being heated in the furnace 15 are `discharged one at a time into the guide channel 16 of the rolling mill where they are engaged by the feeding rollers 17 and pass between a number of sets of reducing rolls which constitute the roughingl rolls of the mill. Each slab engages the first set of roughing rolls 18 edgewise to impart a uniform width'to the slab throughout its length. The slab is then turned onto its flat side and is passed between the next set of roughingI rolls 19 Vby which the slab is partially reduced in thickness and slightly increased in width. The slab is then again returned to its edge, either automatically or by hand, and is given an edgewise pass through the set of rolls 20, following which it is returned to its flat side and further reduced in thickness by the action of the reducing rolls 21. After emerging from the reducing rolls 21, the slab is engaged by the -edge Arollers 22 which are mounted on' vertical axes. These edge rollers are located adjacent to the last set of reducing rolls 23 which give the final reducing operation of the roughing rolls. The various horizontal rolls 18, 19, 20, 21 and 23 are driven through suitable gearing located in the boxes 24 and the shafts of this gearing are connected by bevel gears 25 with a common driving shaft 26 extending longitudinally of the mill parallel to the path of travel f of the slabs being reduced. The shaft 26 is driven through a belt 27 from an electric motor 28. The vertical shafts of the edging rollers 22 are connected to a common transverse shaft 29 by suit-able gearin and this shaft 29 is in turn driven by an e ectric motor 30.

As the partially reduced and greatly elongated sheet of hot metal emerges from the last set of roughing rolls 23, it is subjected, in this particular form of rolling mill, to'a doubling operation whereby a art of the elongated strip or sheet is double upon the remainder.

Before this doubling is bfected, the top surface of the strip or top sheetis preferably covered during its travel with a suitable separating agent adapted to prevent the hot strips or sheets from welding or adhering to each other during the rolling process which fol' lows the doubling of the strips or sheets. This agent may be sodium carbonate or other agent distributed onto the top surface of the flat bar from a sifting box 31 located above the path of travel of the bar as shown in Figs.

.1 and 2 or in any other suitable way. ,The `method of rolling involving the use of such a separating agent is particularly described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 285,621, iled June 15, 1928. As

. the hotbar passes beyond the sifting box 31,

the forward end thereof is automatically engaged by a gripping arm 36 having a jaw 36a at its lower end which engages the end of the bar and swings upwardly, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, to raise the forward end of the elongated and flattened bar out of the path of travel of the remaining portion so that the trailing portion of the bar passes beneath the gripping member 36 and thus causes the elongated bar to be doubled upon itself.'

pair 'spaced apart in diminishing amounts so' that as the doubled bar advances into the throat of these rollers, the bent end is fiattehed upon itself until as it emerges from the last of these flattening rollers 40, the top portion 35b of the bar lies flat upon the underlying portion 356. This method of doubling the elongated bar and the apparatus for accomplishing that function are described and claimed in the co-pending application of Ralph H. Norton and William C. Fork, Serial N o. 285,622, filed J une 15, 1928.

As the doubled bar 35 emerges froml the doubling apparatus, it is engaged by a pair of edge rollers 43 having a common driving shaft 44 which is actuated by an electric motor 45. These edge rollers serve to align the upper and lower layers of the doubled bar with each other before this bar passes into engagement with the rolls 46 by which j p the first step of the final reduction to sheet gauges is accomplished. After passing through the rolls 46, the doubled bar 35 passes through a number of other sets of horizontal reducing rolls 47 of which four sets are shown in the accompanying drawings. The reducing rolls 46 and 47 are adapted to effect the gradual reduction of the doubled bar or strip to the final finished gauge desired and each set of these rolls is driven through the mechanism of a gear box 48 from an electric motor 49 so that each set of reducing rolls may be actuated independently Y at the desired speed. Instead of employing vertical edging rollers, similar toy the rollers 43 for maintaining alignment of the superimposed layers of the metal bar orstrip, after -this strip. has'passed 'through the first set of 1 nishing rolls 46,' there is employed Ain cornjunctionwith each lof" theI sets lofinishing rolls` 47 the particular form of' guiding means` 50 which .constitutes the improvement of the present invention. y"Iheguiding means 450 are shown 'more' particularly in Figs. 4

to lOinclusive ofi-the drawings. 'As the for:

j. ward portion ofthemetal bar o'r strip 35 advarices over the guideway 16 ofthe reducing mill,. after passing through the preliminary finishing rolls :46, it islengaged on its under side by a guide memberfl having an upper inclined face 51a which elevates the strip 35 as it passes between the lateral blocks 152.

These guide-.blocks are mountedv to travel over` fthe tablela of the "guide rchannel 16 f for purposes of adjustment ina lateral directioubut'they'have a fixed position for a par: .ticular width of' sheet being rolled. Thel .blocks K52 arehollow'and the outer vertical f wall'of each block is provided with a nut 53 which isthr'eadedly engaged -by the-adjusting screw 54. 'The adjusting screw is journaled in bearings carried *by the vside plates 55 which are secured by bolts o r studs 56'to the underside of `the .laterally projfectingf-Hanges -of the table y16, as shown particularlyin Fig. 6. A The ends of the adjusting screwr 5.4 have collars 57 secured thereon and one end of the adjusting screw has a 'squared portion 54a adapted to be engaged by a Wrench.- The portions ofthe adjusting screw :54 which enf gage the nuts 5 3 are threaded in 'opposite' directions sol thatwhen the adjusting screw s rotated the lateral guide blocks `52 are simultaneously adjusted toward or from each other. lThe guide f blocks 52 are provided on their inner sides withcheek plates- 58 having flanges 58whieh overlie the guide 'blocks and are secured thereto bystuds 58, as shown in Fig. 4. These lcheek plates'are provided on their forward sides with curved surfaces 58b which extend downwardly and'merge into the down,-

Awardly and rearwardly inclined surfaces 58C.

adapted to engage 'the forward edge vof the' oncoming metal strip and 'guide it downwardly toward the guide plate' 51. .The cheek plates 5,8 terminate at their. lower portions in rearward extensionsV 58d Awhich haveA lowerhorizontal.l surfaces extending parallel 4to the'.

top surface of the 'rear portion 'ofthe guide l plate 51, leavingsuicient. clearanceforthev metal strip, or the doubled metal sheet to pass therebetween, as illustratedby the dotted lines'in Fig. f5.' The metal strip is thus maintained in a substantially definite hori-l `zontal'plan'e as it travels rearwardly between the guiding blocks-i 52, .The side plates be.- tween which these lat-'eral 'guide blocks 52 are. mounted, are -preferably connected 'at their upper edges by a Atransverse tie rod 59: Each f' guide block 52 carries'at its forward end a guide roller 60, the annular'. groove 60 of -which isadaptedto engage one edge of the traveling metal strip or bar. These guide rollers are located in recesses 61 on the under sides of the forward ends of the guide blocks 52 and project inwardly beyond the guide blocks suihciently to engage the edges of the metal strip, as 'shown in Fig. 4. .The guide yrollers are secured on vertical shafts 62 which are journaled in the guide blocks 52 and the upper ends of these shafts 62 are connected by. bevel gears 63 with other bevel gears 64 secured on a transverse-shaft 65. rll`his shaft 65 is journaled in bearings 66 carried by the guide blocks 52 and is driven in the manner hereinafter described so that it notonly guides the metal strip and main- .-t'ains the proper alignment of the superimposed layers thereof'but also acts lasa feeding means. In order that the guide blocks 52 and the guiderollers 60 may be securely held'in position after they have been adjusted to bring about the desired spaced relation,

I eachlgui'de block 52 is provided with a clamping bolt 68 the head of which engages an A undercut transverse slot 69 in the supportingguide table 60. These bolts 68 extend upwardly through holes in the guide blocks 52 and are engaged at their upper ends by a .bar 70 and nuts 71 so that the guide blocks can be, securelyclamped in place after the adjus'ting'screw'5l has been operated to effect a simultaneous .adjustment of the two Vguide blocks Aand the two guide vrollers 60 which .l are movable therewith. i

f l The guiding means 50 also comprises means `-for engaging and guiding the strip 35 after it has passed the guiding rollers 60 and immediately before it passes between the reducing rolls l47. This additional guiding means comprises a pair of guide blocks which are adjustable transversely of the path of travel fof the metal strip on a guide member 76, as

illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The guide mem`- ber `7 6 1 is carried by integral brackets 77 vhaving ianges. 78which are secured by studs 79 tothe frame members 80.0f the reducing .rolls 47 The guide member 76 is provided with a -groove 76*T11 in which slides the proj ection 75a formed on each of the guide blocks .75 and when the blocks 75 havs been ad- "flangeis substantially horizontal as shown at 75d. The guide ilange 75h is ada ted to cooperate with a cheek plate 85, one o which is mounted, on each-of the guide blocks 75'. The cheek plates 85 are generally similar in `ins formto the cheek plates 58 mounted on the guide blocks 52 except that the cheek plates 85 are mounted for pivotal adjustment. Each cheek plate 85 is secured to 4the adjacent guide block 75 by means of a stud 86 about which it is capable of pivotal movement. Each cheek late has atits rear end a laterally projecting ange 85a whichoverlies the adjacent guide block and an adjusting screw 87 passes through each flange 85tl into the guide block so that upon adjustment of this screw, the inclination of the cheek plate 85 about its pivot 86 may be varied. The limit of this pivotal movement is determined by a second stud 88 which passes through van elongated slot 89 in the cheek plate into a threaded hole in the guide block. Each cheek plate 85 has a flange 851 which extends inwardly over the flange 75". of the guide block, thus leaving an lntervening slot 90 through which the metal strip 35 passes. The vertical dimension of this slot may be'varid by adjusting the cheek plate 85. The flange 85b is continued forwardly and upwardly, being inclined as shown at 85 and substantially semicircular as shown at 85d, thus guiding the forward end of the moving strip of metal into the slot 90. The lateral adjustment of the,

guide blocks 75 and parts carried thereby is effected by means of two adjusting screws 91, the opposite ends of which are threaded in opposite directions and arranged to have a threaded engagement with the depending earsv 92 which are formed on the under side of the guide blocks. The two adjusting screws 91 are located on opposite sides of the guide member 76 and each adjusting screw has a worm wheel 93 secured tothe middle part thereof to mesh with one of the worms 94 secured 0n the longitudinal shaft 95. This shaft is journaled in bearings 96 carried by a bracket 97 attached to the guide member 76 and itis connected by bevel gears 98 with a transverse shaft 99 journaled in bearings 100 carried by the bracket 77 and flanges 78. The shaft 99 has a squared ex? tremity 99a adapted to be engaged 'by a wrench for effecting the simultaneous adjustment of the uide lQcks 75 'toward or from each other a ter the clampingbolts 81 have been released by the adjustment of the nuts engaging their` upper extremities. It will be observed that the uide flanges 7 5b and 85b formed'on the guide locks and cheek plates, respectively, extend rearwardly of the mill in close proximity to the place where the reducing rollers 47 engage the upper and lower'surfaces ofthe metal strip 35, as shown in Fig. 5, thus providing means for guiding .the lateral edges of the strip and securing the proper'l alignment of the edges of the upper and lower superimposed layers, immediately before the strip passes linto engagementwith the reducing rollers.

In practice, the guiding rollers are pref- A after passing throug erably spaced apart a distance of about E of an inch less than the estimated minimum width of the metal strip being rolled in a particular series of operations with a fixed adjustment of the blocks 52 and, with this spaced relation of the guide rollers 60, the spaced relation of the vertical faces of the guide blocks 52 should preferably be about one-fourth of an inch more, and the spaced relation of the vertical faces of the guide blocks 75 should preferably be about one thirty-second of an inch more than the shortestdistance between the peripheral surfaces of the bottoms of the grooves of the opposite guide rollers 60. If a metal sheet or strip comes to the guide rollers 60 which is wider than the space between them, it will usually bow upwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, or downwardly since it is then relatively thin or one layer may bow upwardly and the other downwardly. Although the fixed guides are slightly farther apart, they are sufficiently close to theJ edges of the metal strip to maintain the proper alignment of the layers of the strip as the doubled end thereof passes .into engagement with the reducing rollers 47. The guide rollers 60 are positively driven and are preferably connected to the reducing rolls of the next preceding set so that their speed is. proportional to the speed of the oncoming doubled strip rather than being proportional to the speed of the further reduced strip after it has passed through the next following reducing` roll. For this purpose the transverse shaft which drives the rollers 60 is actuated by the mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. Each shaft 65 is connected to an extension 101 through a ratchet wheel 102 and a disk 103V carrying a pivoted pawl 104 which engages the teeth; of the ratchet wheel, as illustratedin Figs. 7 and 10. The disk 103 is fixed on' the Shaft 101 while the ratchet wheel 102 is fixed on the shaft 65 and the pawl 104 is actuated by a spring 105 to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that when the shaft 101 is actuated it drives the shaft 65 through the ratchet teeth while at the same time permitting, 'the shaft 65 to rotate at a higher rate ofl speed in case the rollers 60 tend to rotate at a higher rate underthe influence of the moving strip of metal. The shaft 101 is connected by gears 106 with another shaft 107 having bearings carried by the casing of the gearbox 48 and the outer end of this shaft 107 has fixed thereon a sprocket gear 108 arranged to mesh with a driving chain 109'which is, actuated by another sprocket gear 110 fixed on the shaft 49l of the pinion gears which drive the next lpreceding set of reducing rolls. In this way, the rollers 60 of the guiding means 50 are driven at the proper speed to engage the edges of the oncomin strip of metal which one set of reducing rolls is partially reduced in thickness, as

ence in the necessary peripheral speeds o f the. reducing rollers and of the guide rollers and,

in practice, thesel speeds are preferably so regulated that the reducing rolls of one set,

will tend to cause the metal strip 35 to bow upwardly between two sets of reducing rolls, as shown at 112 in Fig. 8, thus preventing any tendency for atension to be set up in the metal strip between two sets of rolls. Notwithstanding this possible upward bowing of the longitudinal strip of metal, as it passes through the reducing rolls by which the finishing operations are performed, the metal strip is properly directed into the guide roll ers '60 of each set by the action of the tapered guiding means carried by the guidlng blocks52.

Although one form of the improved gu 1d ing means of the present invention has been shown and described by way of illustration in connection with a particular arrangement of rolling mill apparatus, it will be understood. that the invention may be adapted for use with various `forms of apparatus in roll-y ing millsand may be constructed in various 'forms within the scope of the appended claims.

,1. The combination in apparatus for manu-l facturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for reducing a slab to form a strip of sheet bar thickness, means for doubling said strip, 4finishing rolls for further reducing said doubled strip, 'and positivel 1 driven guiding means located adj acent'to sai iinishing rolls for engaging and guiding the lateral edges of said doubled strip.

2. The combination yin apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means forforminga ack of superimposed metal layers, a pair o rolls ada ted to reduce saidmetal pack, rotary gui ing means located adjacent to said rolls for engaging the sides of said pack, means for driving said rotary uiding means, and 'stationary guiding means aving a greater spaced relation than said rotary guiding means for ens gaging the lateral edges of said pack.

3. The combination in ap aratus for manuacturing metal sheets and strips of Sheet gauges, of means for forming a pack of superimposed metal layers, of a pair ofl rolls adapted to 'reduce said metal pack, rotar guiding means located adjacent to said rc; s for en#l gaging the sides of said metal layers, vand normally stationary guiding means extend- -to reduce said metal pack, means for moving said pack to said rolls, movable positively driven guiding means adapted t0 enga e the lateral edges of said pack in advance o said rolls, and normally stationary guidin means adapted to engage said pack on its edges betwleien said movable guiding means and said ro s.

5'.l The combination in ap aratus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for formin a strip of sheet bar thickness, means for dou ling said strip, a pair of rolls adapted to reduce said doubled strip, rotary guiding means located adjacent to said rolls for engaging `the sides of saiddoubled strip, normally stationary guiding means extending into the converging space adjacent the line of contact of said rolls with saidldoubled'strip edgewise for guiding said doubled stripA between said rolls, and means for'adjusting the spaced relation of said guiding means.

6. The combination in ap aratus for manufacturin metal sheets an strips of sheet gauges, o meansfor forming a strip of sheet bar thickness, means for doubling said strip, a pair of rolls adapted to reduce said doubled strip, movable guiding means adapted to e-ngage the lateral edges of said doubled strip in advance of said rolls, normally stationa guiding means adapted to engage sai doubled strip on its ed es between said movable guiding means an said rolls, andmeans for adjusting the spaced relation of said movable guiding means independently of said 4 strip 'of sheet bar thickness, a set of rolls for lreducing said doubled strip, rotary` guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strip inadvance of said rolls, normally stationary guiding means in advance of said rotary guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strip, and means for simultaneously adjusting the I spaced relation of said rotary guiding means and saidnormally stationary guiding means. 8. The combination in apparatus ier manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of a set of rolls for reducing a metal pack, means for moving said pack to said rolls, rotary guidin means engaging said pack in advance of sald rolls, and means for driving said rotary guiding means with 1 Q9. The combination pac doubled strip [immediately after it emerges a speed proportional to thefspeed'o'f travel of said pack towardssa-id rolls.

manufacturing metalsheets and' strips of sheet gauges, cfa plurality of sets. of rolls forf-successively engaging and reducing a metal pack,` means -for'f-driving said rolls, rotary guiding. means for engaging the metal 'pack in advance of each setof4 Said rolls-, and-jmeans for driving said rotary guidingmeans with aspeedpro ortional. tol

thelssneed'bf the next preceding 'set of said rol f 10. The combination' apparatus .for manufacturing metal sheets and stri s of rheet gauges, of a plurality of 4sets o rolls for successively engaging and reducing' a 'metal pack; means for driving said rolls,

rotary lguiding means for engaging the metal pack in advance of each'set oflsaidfrolls, means for-drivingsaid rotary guiding means With a speed-proportional to the speed of the next preceding Iset of said rolls,A4 and means .for permitting. saidV Arotary guiding `means to move with a speed greater than the speed-of its driving means. j

11. The combination vin apparatusfor manufacturing metal s heets land' strips of sheet gauges, of guiding means for engaging the under sideandthe'to'p'edges of amovingmetal strip, normally stationary guiding' means adapted to engage the lateral edges of said strip, -and irotary guiding means adapted to engage the 'lateraledges of said strip. i

12. The combinatlon in apparatus 'for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, Yofm'eans fof r moving a metal pack, normally stationary guiding means adapted to engage the lateral edges-of said rotary gul ing means "adapted to engage' theLedges of sald ack beyond said stain apparatusfor vlateral edge of said strip, and guiding means engaging the under side of said strip.

15. The combination in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for moving a metal strip,guide blocks arranged to engage the lateral sides of said strip, a guiding member carried by each of said blocks above a lateral edge of said strip, and means for adjusting `eachl1of\ said guide members to vary its spaced' relation lwith respect to said metal strip. l 16. The combination in apparatus for manufacturing -metal sheets land. strips of sheet gauges, f a pair of guide blocks adapted to engage the lateral edges of a doubled metal strip during its movement, guide members' carried by each of said guide blocks for engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of'said doubled strip adjacent the latferal edges thereof, and rotary guiding means adapted to engage the lateral edges of said doubled strip as it emerges from said guide members.

17. The combination yin apparatus for 4manufacturing 4metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of a pair of guide blocks adaptved to engage the lateral edges of a doubled metal strip during its movement, guide members carried by eachof said guide blocks for engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of said doubled strlp adjacent the lat- ;eral edges thereof, rotary, guiding means 'ada ted to engagethe lateral edges of said dou led strip' as 'it emerges from said uide members, and means `for positively driving said rotary guiding means. 18. The l combination in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheetfgauges, of means for guiding the movement of a doubled metal strip comprising a pair of'guide blocks adapted to engagethe tionary guiding means or uiding-said pack" lateral edges of said doubled strip a shaft beyond'saidstationary gui ing, means.

13'. -The combination -in apparatus for manufacturing metal4 sheets and `strips of sheet gauges, of means for movinga doubled metal strip, normally -stationary guiding means adapted to engage E the lateral edges of said doubled strip, rotary guiding means adapted to engage .the edges of said doubled -stripbeyond s aidV stationary guiding means, additional normally stationary guid- `ing means forfguiding said ldoubled strip beyond said rotary guiding means, and a pair of reducing rolls adapted to engage said fromsaid llast named guiding means.

1 4. The combination in .apparatus for` manufacturing metal-,sheets and 'strips of sheet gauges, of means for moving a' metal strip, guideblocks Varrangedto engage the .lateral sides of said'strip, a guiding mmbercarri'ed bylea'ch of said blocks above a Aj ournaled in each of said guide bloc and a grooved guide roller mounted on each of said @shafts for eng gementw'ith a lateral edge lof said' doubled strip.

19..The combination in. apparatus for manufacturingmetal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for guiding the movement of a' doubled metal'stri comprising a f air of guide blocks ada ted to engage the ateral edges of said dou led strip a shaft journaled in' each 'of said guide blocks, a grooved. guide roller mounted on each of said shafts for engagement with a lateral vedge of saiddoubled strip, and means for driving said guiderollers at the same speed.

`20. The combination in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for guiding the move- `ment of a doubled .metal stri comprising a pair of 'guide b'locks ada tedp to engage the lateral edges of said dou led strip, a shaft journaled in each of said guide blocks, a

' 'grooved guide roller mounted on each of said mally stationary shafts for engagement with a lateral edge of said doubled strip, and means for adjusting said guide blocks transversely to the path of movementl of said strip for varying their spaced relation.

21. The combination in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for guiding the movement of a doubled metal strip comprising a pair of guide blocks adapted to engage-the lateral edges of said doubled strip, a shaft journaled in eachof said guide blocks, a grooved guide roller mounted-on each of said shafts for engagement with a lateral edge of said doubled strip, means for' adjusting vsaid guide blocks transverselyto the' path of movement of said doubled strip for varying their spaced relation, and means for clamping said guide blocks in adjusted position..

22. The combination in yapparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips of sheet gauges, of means for guiding the movement of a doubled metal strip comprising normally stationary guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strip, movable guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said strip after itv passes said first-named guidin means, 'and means for independently adjusting the lateral spaced relation of each of said guiding means.

23. The combination in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets and strips"'of4 sheet gauges, of means for guiding the'movement of a doubled metal strip comprising normally stationary guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strip, movable guidingmeans for engagingI the lateral edges of said strip after it passes said first-named guiding means, other normally stationary guiding means for engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strip as it passes from said movable guiding means, and means for adjusting the lateral spaced relation of each of said guiding means independently of the corresponding adjustvment of each of said other guiding means.

24. The combination, 'in apparatus for manufacturing metal sheets. and strips of sheet gauges, of means for guiding the movement of doubled metal strips comprising noruidingmeans having a spaced relation sllghtly greater than the width of the doubled-strips, and rotary guiding means engaging the lateral edges of said doubled strips as they pass from said firstnamed guiding means, said rotary guiding sheet gauges, of means for guiding the move- 4 means having a spaced relation slightly less than the average width of the doubled strips passing therethrough.

pair of grooved rollers `adapted to engage the lateral edges of the doubled strips and having a spaced relation slightly less than the average width of the doubled strips, and

normally stationary guiding means having a greater spaced relation than said grooved rollers and adapted to receive said doubled strips from said rollers.

26. The combination in apparatus for.l

manufacturing. metal sheets and strips of.

sheet gauges, of a pair of guide blocks spaced apart to receive a metal strip between them, cheek plates mounted on said guide blocks, and meansfor adjusting said cheek plates on said guide blocks. v

28. The combination in "apparatus fo manufacturing metal sheets 'and strips of sheet gauges, of guiding means comprising Iparts adapted to'engage the under side and the lateral edges of a metal strip, cheek vplates adapted to guide the upper sides of said metal strip, and means for adjusting said cheek plates angularly with respect to said guiding means.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

RALPH H. NORTON.

25. The combination in apparatus vfor 'i manufacturing metal sheets and strips of 65 ment of doubled metal strips comprising a 

